Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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604. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the 2022 pilot farm environmental study programme, the delivery of which was awarded to an organisation (details supplied) after a public tender process; when the decision not to proceed with the study programme was made by his Department; when the organisation was informed by his Department that it no longer planned to proceed with the study programme; the reason the programme did not proceed as planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35276/25]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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606. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the decision not to proceed with the 2022 Pilot Farm Environmental Study Programme was made by his Department; when an organisation (details supplied) was informed by his Department that it no longer planned to proceed with the study programme; the reason the programme did not proceed as planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35298/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 606 together.

The pilot Farm Environmental Study (FES) was introduced during the CAP transitional period with the objective of providing a baseline measurement of biodiversity on farms before the commencement of the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) in order to support the introduction of the CSP programme.

Following a public procurement process, a contract was entered into with the named organisation for delivery of the pilot. However several delays, meant the pilot didn't proceed as planned and the intended seasonal survey window of May-September 2022 was missed.

The named organisation’s contract for delivery of the pilot FES expired on 30th November 2022.

The CAP Strategic Plan commenced on 1st January 2023 to include ACRES, the flagship agri-environmental scheme which through its results based actions is measuring biodiversity on-farm, replacing the objectives of FES pilot. Over this period there were also developments in biodiversity surveying technologies.

On 24th November 2023 the named organisation was informed in writing that “the Department considers that the technological and policy aims underpinning the FES Programme have rapidly advanced with the CAP Strategic Plan. The technological merit of the survey model of the FES Programme has changed and the Programme is no longer as relevant or necessary to achieve the aims for which it was developed. In the circumstances, I can confirm that the Department is currently considering whether to continue with the FES Programme”.

The decision was subsequently made to discontinue the FES Programme as it was no longer relevant or necessary to achieve the aims for which it was developed.